Should media sites collect personal data in exchange for free access?

Meta sued over forcing users to pay to stop tracking
https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/ne...-stop-tracking

I have been active for the right to privacy on internet since 1995..

So i say they should not collect data if we dont want to..
Like windows in the past when they had Windows experience program.. (Or what is was called) Where we users could activate it to support Microsoft if we wanted to help out with feedback etc.
That is the right way to collect data..... letting the user to actively have to activate the sharing data function.. Not default on.. or forced as newer windows...

as i some times worked with collecting information how i installed system got effected by viruses and malware in the past, i had a lab-test machine for that.. and on that one i had activated that "experience program" as i felt it was good if microsoft could benefit of that data to make windows more secure....
But on all my other machines it was off and all telemetry functions killed as that is my stuff.

Nothing in this world is for free.... you either pay with money, your data, ads or your time(Linux is a good example of where you pay with your time)
For me is paying with money, my time and some static ad-banners that dont collect data okay..

My data is my data and i decide whom i want to share that data with. and that is NOT Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, etc.

So on the question about Meta being sued for forcing people to pay to not steal all data.....
Meta has the right to make it a payed service, only that all users is used to its free, so now when they must start paying to be free from ads, they complain.. But they dont have to pay.. they can still use Facebook and all without paying and it was as they accepted when they first register..... as they didn't click on the [i dont accept] button when they register, so why complain now several years later.. The data is already stolen..

But i have been against Facebook from the start do to the data collection issue...... If they wanted they could have had ads without steal all users data.. And i believe its a trick.. Even if you pay for not having personal ads, they will still collect data in the background... Just look on the history of saying VS doing when it comes to Meta.

I read one time that Internet Providers sell their user data. If that is true then I think that it is unethical. Also, if its is true then there should be an opt in not an opt out.

MisterEd said:

I read one time that Internet Providers sell their user data. If that is true then I think that it is unethical. Also, if its is true then there should be an opt in not an opt out.

Yeah that would be really wrong.. But i would not be surprised if that happens in some countries... as some have that agreement policy.. If you accept our services then we can hijack your system.. and then it's legal as it was on print and you did agree.. even if you never read it, just accepted it.
I only know how things really works here in sweden... as i live here.

Just about everyone is out to grab some kind of data on you. This is something a lot of people should be aware of. Not only do they store it, but in many cases, sell it to 3rd parties to make even more money.

When you sign up for any app, be aware there's very probably something in the legalese saying they can/will collect & use your data and you acknowledge this by clicking the agreement & using the app or software.

So the choice comes down to you, is it worth your data being harvested to use this app. Be aware you aren't going to get their services for free & they expect some sort of "payment" for use of the service, mainly your data.

I suppose it is a good thing that at least they are offering an option of making sure your data isn't being logged, although it would have been nice had they offered that option for free. But, everyone's out to make some $$$$ and this is yet another grab at making profits by the big companies.

There are steps you can take to limit your personal data, such as plug ins or just making sure you don't put personal or sensitive info out there for all to see. Remember, once it's on the net, it's there to stay & who knows how that will be used down the road.

Borg 386 said:

Just about everyone is out to grab some kind of data on you. This is something a lot of people should be aware of. Not only do they store it, but in many cases, sell it to 3rd parties to make even more money.

When you sign up for any app, be aware there's very probably something in the legalese saying they can/will collect & use your data and you acknowledge this by clicking the agreement & using the app or software.

So the choice comes down to you, is it worth your data being harvested to use this app. Be aware you aren't going to get their services for free & they expect some sort of "payment" for use of the service, mainly your data.

I suppose it is a good thing that at least they are offering an option of making sure your data isn't being logged, although it would have been nice had they offered that option for free. But, everyone's out to make some $$$$ and this is yet another grab at making profits by the big companies.

There are steps you can take to limit your personal data, such as plug ins or just making sure you don't put personal or sensitive info out there for all to see. Remember, once it's on the net, it's there to stay & who knows how that will be used down the road.

Free without data collection is doable with static ad-banners.. I have a feeling this forum "might" be a victim of Google personal ads and i dont know how much data that might go back to google as i have not inspected this html code and scripts.. I only get a big fat warning that google code is blocked in my scriptblocker..

Yes i agree, there is steps to take to limit your personal data to spread.

I know you know this Borg
But i mention it anyway for others to read and to see if you agree with me




I often first point out the obvious.
If you use Google account, Facebook account etc, etc for a longer period... You screwed so no need to even try starting limit the data now, they already know who you are *LOL*

The word easy of use, is gong out the door the same second you decide you want privacy online.
Computer fingerprint.. The IP in some cases the Mac address, the installed OS, the resolution, the browser etc etc.. so it dont matter if you clear out cookies every 5minutes.. The big tech know who you are anyway.
So if you have a google account, google probibly know your name, phone number and address.. and your computer/ smartphone finger print.. So even if you log out from google, they still tracking you online.. even this site is infected by google.. to what extent, i dont know right now as i have not inspected the code.

So it is here the ease of use goes out the door.. You need different computers for different tasks.
If you have google email, One computer for google services... If you have facebook.. One computer for Meta services.. Then one computer for web browsing that dont have any accounts connected to you as a person.
And it is here a VPN comes in.. to hide your IP so you dont have the same IP as the google and facebook computer.
Then we have next thing.. what to post and what not to post... Pictures of yourself, your house, your neighborhood etc.. Images contains metadata as GPS positioning etc etc.. Then if you often twitter/facebooking they your language and way to type becomes a factor that can identify you as John-Doe1234 on tenforum being John-Doe-king on facebook that lives on Hollywood Boulevard..... all this is metadata and used right is called OSINT


Just try google your own name, nickname etc and see how many hits you have.
So to be really anonymous, you have to have been that from the start.
as for me.... Even if google has manage to collect some data on me, they can not connect that to me as a person.... if no one knowing me hasn't sold me out. *LOL*